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(No Model.)

J. W. PATTERSON. com AOPBRAIfBD MBGHANISM.

Patented Dec. 25, 189.4.A

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@ep/M Y UNITED m STATESA PATENT GFFICE] JAMEsswILLIAM PATrnRsoN, on NEwYoRK, N. Y.

COIN-OPERAT-D MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of 'Letters Patent No. 531,32*?, dated December 25, 1894.

V Application l'iled September 24, 1889. Serial No. 324,930. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, JAMES WILLIAM PAT-r TERSON, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Brit ain, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and uesful Improvements in Stoppers for Coin Operated Mechanism of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to coin-operated mechanisms in generalthat is to such mechanisms or devices as are actuated or released,I through the medium of an inserted coin.

vSuch mechanisms include coin-actuated locksautomatic vending machines, weighing ma chines, and rental devices, such'as those for the renting of opera-glasses in theaters, and numerous other mechanisms or devices for various purposes. In the practical use of such coin-actuated mechanisms it becomes at times desirable to render them inoperative. For example in the case of opera glass rental boxes in theaters which are used also as halls for holding public meetings, political conven-A tions, &c., it is desirable whenever such a meeting is to be held in the theater to be able to render the opera-glass boxes inoperative in order to afford security that the opera glasses shall not be taken from the boxes and used at such times, since there is greater liability of thepglasses being stolen bythe class of persons present at such meetings than by those who frequent theatrical performances. It is desirablenot only that the boxes shall be rendered inoperative, but that the insertion of coins in the attempt to operate themy shall be prevented.

My invention provides means for attaining these objects. I provide the coin operated mechanism with means for closing or blocking the coin 'slot at will, which means may be considerably varied, butYV which consists preferably of a movable filling-piece arranged to be inserted in or displaced into the coin slot so as t0 prevent the insertion of a coin. This filling-piece is provided with a catch, preferably a spring catch, for fastening it in position to close the slot, and the case in which the coin slot is formed is Inade with a hole for the insertion of a separate key to engage and retract said catch in order to per- 'mit of the removal or displacement of the filling-piece to open the slot. In my preferred construction the filling-piece consists of a separable plate or plug of su'ch size and shape that it may be thrust into the coin slot, and with a spring catch formed on it to engage a suitably arranged shoulder within the case and thereby to hold the filling-piece in the slot.

In the accompanying drawingsI haveshown my invention as applied to the coin-actuatedl locks of opera-glass boxes for theaters, but obviously my invention is applicable as well to other coin-operated mechanisms 'or devices.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an opera- -glass box showing its slot closed by the application of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the lock on a larger scale in vertical section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section thereof on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. -Fig. .tis aview of the plate or filling-piece removed. Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 2 illustrating a slight modification. Fig. 6 is a similar View to Fig. 2 showing a different construction ofcoinactuated lock and illustrating a modified form of my invention. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section of Fig. 6 o'n the line 7-7.

As my invention has nothing to do, with the particular construction of the coin-actuated locks to which I have shown it as applied, it will not be necessary here to describe these lim locks. Suffice it to say that the lock shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is that described in the application of A. H. Faucher, Serial No. 316,506, filed July 5, 1889, and that the one shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is that shown in the application of C. S. Patterson, Serial No. 313,140, filed June 5, 1889.

Let A designate the case of a coin-actuated lock (or it may be the case of any other coinactuated mechanism) which is provided with a coin-slot or conduit ct through which to introduce the coin to operate the lock or other mechanism.

Let B designate a movable filling-piece for closing or blocking the coin-slot a, and Cv a catch, preferably a spring catch, for locking the filling-piece in place. v

In the construction shown in Figs. l to 5 l inclusive, the filling-piece B consists ofy aV plate of metal, orother material, of the proper thickness and width to enter snugly within the coin-slot and when inserted therein to roo 1 sertion of a coin.

fill the same and close it tight against the in- This plate is made preferably of spring metal and is cut so as to form an elastic tongue or leaf spring b at one side terminating in a tooth c, with a notch or space d behind the tooth so that the latter may be pressed back. In inserting the filling-piece into the slot this tooth is thus pressed back and when the filling-piece is fully seated within the slot the tooth passes a shoulder@ within the case and flies outward beneath said shoulder so that by its engagement therewith it prevents the lifting out of the filling-piece. The filling-piece is preferably high enough so that a portion projects above the case, and on this portion I prefer to mark the word Closed. Thus by the insertion of the filling-piece and its fastening by means of the catch C, the coin-operated mechanism is rendered inoperative.

In order to enable the attendant to remove the filling-piece B, he is provided with a pin or other suitable key D, shown in Fig. 2, and a hole]c is formed in the case A through which he can insert this key and in such position that when the key is inserted it will come against the catch C, so that by pressing upon the key the tooth c of the catch may be pressed back far enough to clear the shoulder e, WhereupOn the attendant by grasping the projecting portion of the filling-piece may lift it out.

In Fig. 5 the lilling-piece is shown as provided with two catches G on opposite sides, the one engaging the shoulder e and the other a shoulder e. To release the catches it is necessary to insert two keys D and D' through holes fand f' respectively, and to simultaneously press both keys in order to disengage both catches.

Either of the constructions just described constitutes a simple and convenient means for closing the coin slot. In case of operaglass boxes, an attendant has only to take a pocketful of the filling-pieces and go through the theater inserting one in the slot of each boX; and when it is desired to render the boxes operative again he will go through the theater and remove the filling-pieces by inserting the key D into the key-hole of each box with one hand while he pulls out the filling-piece with the other.

It is not essential to my invention that the filling piece shall be separable from the case of the coin-actuated device, as it may instead be permanently connected with the case but so mounted as to be movable into and out of the coin-slot. As examples of such modification I have shown two constructions in Figs. G and 7, respectively.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the filling-piece consists of a slide B movable in grooves g g, as best shown in Fig. 7, and so proportioned that when moved to the right in Fig. 6 it will leave the coin-slot open, and when moved to the left it will close it. It is so moved by means of a key D, which is thrust through the keyhole f2 in order to move the filling-piece to the left, or through a key-hole f to move it back to the right. When moved to the left it is fastened there, in order that it cannot be slid back by inserting a penknife or other instrument through the slot, by means of a spring catch C, which in this instance, is attached to the caseA (instead of being carried by the llingpiece B as in the previous construction). This catch consists of aleaf spring the end of which iiies up against the end of the sliding plate B and prevents the retraction thereof. To re-open the coin-slot it is necessary to use a key D2 which is thrust downwardly through a keyhole f3 to press down the spring C, whereupon by pushing with the key D the plate B is slid over the end of the spring C, after which by removing the key D2 the plate can be pushed by the key D to its extreme right hand position, in which position the spring C serves to prevent its accidental'displacemeut by bearing frictionally against its under side.

My invention may be otherwise modified in many ways without departing from its essential features which are defined in the claim.

I am well aware that coin-actuated selling machines and other mechanisms have been provided with automatic means for closing the coin-slot either when the stock of goods is exhausted or when the mechanism is not in proper condition for the reception of a coin; but such means cannot be used to close the coin-slot at will and thereby lock u p the mechanism and render it inoperative when so desired, as is the purpose of my invention.

t I claim as my invention the following defined novel features or combinations, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, namely:

The combination with a coin actuated lock casing provided with a coin chute, a keyhole and special key, of a stopper adapted to close the coin chute and provided with a spring catch which engages a suitable projection in the casing, thereby fastening it in position to close the slot and whereby it may be released by the said key passing through the key hole and disengaging the spring catch.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES WILLIAM PATTERSON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE I-I. FRASER, ARTHUR C. FRASER.

IOO 

